The 1st ECO Ministerial on Tourism was held in Tehran on October 19- 20, 2008. It was hosted by Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran (ICHTO). The meeting was attended by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The ECO Cultural Institute (ECI), as well as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO) were also participated in the meeting.
The meeting reviewed cooperation among the member states in the tourism sector, discussed implementation of the Plan of Action on Tourism, and evolved a modality for the Establishment of ECO Tourism Promotion Fund.
The meeting declared November 28 which is ECO Day as the ECO Tourism Festival Day. The Islamic Republic of Iran announced its readiness to host the 1st ECO Tourism Festival Day in 2008 in Gilan. It also offered a cruiseship program and requested to member states to actively participate in the festival and related programs.
A Fund for tourism promotion in the region was agreed to be established. The representatives of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey pledged to contribute to the fund as soon as it was set up.
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan offered to host a working group meeting on the revival of the Silk Road. It would be in March 2009 symbolizing with Nourooz.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of ECO Plan of Action on Tourism which was prepared and approved by the HLEG meetings. These were held in Tehran and Baku in December 2003 and June this year.
Publication of the ECO Tourism Guidebook was reviewed and Iran pledged to cover the cost of its printing.
Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization arranged a trip to Shiraz for the participants. The delegates visited important cultural and historical sites. These included Takht-e- Jamshid and the tombs of Saadi and Hafiz.